Derbyshire based help required for Newbie

[Demelza83]

Hi
I recently bought a Y reg 1.9 petrol RHD Diamond RV conversion from local garage - she was a trade in.Took her to a diff garage who do VWs & they told me she was rusted to hell & that I should take her back as cost would be thousands to repair...Long story short original garage then paid for repairs to sliding door and replaced RH side lower panels after assuring me that chassis & engine are sound.So far she runs great,interior is tidy & cooker etc all work but I would really like the opinion of a 3rd party with no vested interest as I have limited budget & am by no stretch of the imagination a mechanic ( though I m trying to understand Haynes) I m based in Belper,willing to travel a bit of distance for a sound opinion or can anyone local recommend a sound garage that I can trust? Any help really gratefully received
Thank you
Alexa

[boatbuilder]

Post lots of photos on here and thre are plenty of experts who can tell you whats what.

[Dazco]

How about http://www.autohausdolby.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Based in Sheffield

[Jonnyb416]

Photos are the easiest way. Open up a photobucket account. Best to get an idea on here before you go to a garage.

[AdrianC]

Drop Ian Hulley a line - he's in Wirksworth, and will be able to give you a good overview of what's what.

[mattjarvis]

Highly recommend Matt Dolby at Autohaus Dolby in Sheffield.

[ghost123uk]

Also Campershack is only about 40 miles from you and they know T25's batter than almost anyone. They are a business though and I'm guessing a modest fee would be incurred.

[Demelza83]

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I feel a bit queasy now I've looked at the rust in detail...
The whole photo of van before blue half respray shows the side before the lower panels were replaced -this side bit is at least now sound... as is under the sliding door but door itself has rust as does frame(top Pic) but both ( errr, all) wheel arches fairly crusty as is the sill round both sides of the pop top and was advised under front window bodged with filler...also several window seals seen better days.
I will definitely look up the guy in Wirksworth as its just up the road thanks.
I'll admit I bought her without consulting anyone with a clue ( I really don't -it's just been a lifelong dream but I am willing to learn-the hard way possibly...)
anyway thoughts & opinions welcome though be gentle with me,she maybe crusty and old but I love her
cheers
alex

[AdrianC]

Go easy on you? Oookay. We'll try...

Coo, there's some podge in that. Must weigh about three ton... Sure they put new metal in that lower body side? There's a heck of a lot of podge hiding the seams around the front of it...

You bought it from a garage? I think I'd be taking it back and mentioning the magic words "Sale of Goods Act".

[Demelza83]

Err thanks,I think ;0
That's the before pic of original bodge job on that side of van, they def replaced those middle bottom panels (saw her before respray) but feels bit like a drop in the ocean now that I'm a bit more clued up... I did go back to the original garage and we ended up agreeing on them paying for the side panel weld,sliding door repairs,seat belt attachments strengthened & part respray in compensation. TBH they did sell her as a project & I was adamant that I'd rather keep her and 3rd party mechanic assured me chassis & engine were sound enough to warrant doing bodywork repairs...I don't think they'd take her back now after we agreed to these terms.
I've got a bit of budget but I'm quickly realising that it won't go very far...I guess what I want to find out is if its possible to keep her from deteriorating and what to tackle first in terms of most important? Or am I in cloud cuckoo and about to jizz all my savings up the wall if you pardon the expression...
cheers

[AdrianC]

TBH they did sell her as a project

Ah, OK... That makes a big difference.

3rd party mechanic assured me chassis & engine were sound enough to warrant doing bodywork repairs...

That's a good start.

Or am I in cloud cuckoo and about to jizz all my savings up the wall if you pardon the expression...

Yes, but in a good way! <grin>

[bluebus1987]

I think your instincts are right to get it thoroughly looked over by someone who knows how these vans are put together.
the lower side panel you say was welded has an alarming amount of filler at the front end where it meets the B pillar ( Door frame ). Was this put on by the repairer and why?
Some bodywork bits realy do matter a lot more than others. Suspension mountings, seat belts, main frame elements such as door pillars etc.
These vans do not have a chassis as such, they depend on the integrity of the whole structure for strength.
Once you know what it needs you can prioritise what needs doing straight away to make/keep it safe to drive. Then you can plan to improve it and hopefully stop the rot progrssing.
Don't be too put off though, nearly all of these vans out there will have some rust issues lurking somewhere, and its sometimes better to be scruffy and know what your dealing with, rather than shiny on the outside and rotten underneath. You can't see till you start to strip it back
Also, if it currently has an MOT keep it that way. Dont wait till it runs out to fix it. I parked mine up for a few months so I could get around to fixing the few bits it needed, and a few years on its still there. Keep it in use and you'r much more likely to get on with it.
If you can make it as far as Hope valley one day, I'll gladly have have a poke around it for you. I'm not an expert but I do know something of how they're put together from my own repairs I've done.
Tim.

[Demelza83]

Thanks for the support all. Much appreciated as I ve gone from wild excitement at finally owning a van to being overwhelmed by repair situation. I will keep on my mission to find best local expert/ garage cheers

[boatbuilder]

A bit confusing I presume the blue colour is the current can.
The bottom of the b post drivers side looks a bit suspect.
Maybe when they replaced the sill panel they didn't bother fabricating a lip on both ends and just filled the gap with filler...
Looks like atrocious prep before applying the blue paint so if the paint was done by the same guy who did the welding I wouldn't be too hopeful that it was done well.

[bluebus1987]

Looking at the pictures again it would look much better without the claggy blue paint (although I do like that colour).
In the picture showing filler breaking off the front wheelarch, there are pipes and an object that looks like part of the fuel tank vapour catcher thing dangling behind the wheel. Make sure this is not rubbing on the wheel. it should be fixed under the arch. Did you say they'd repaired the seatbelt mounting? because the fixings are right next to each other.
I dont think the seller has done you any favours with the repairs/paint they've done, but it is just paint, and any further repairs wil need repainting anyway.